Steam steering apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. FRAZIER STEAM STEERING APPARATUS. No.271,326. Patented Jan.30,1883.

(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. FRAZIER.

STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 30,1883.

UITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

noun FRAZIER, or sewer, ARKANSAS.

STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 271,326, dated January30, 1883.

Application filed July 10, 1852.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN FRAZIER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Searcy, in the county of \Vhite andState of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in SteamSteering Apparatus,ot' which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby to quickly andaccurately operate the rudder ot' a vessel and secure the same in anyposition to which it is set. This object I effect by combining with saidrudder an operating-engine and a peculiar valve device, as fullydescribed hereinafter. The said engine and valveare adapted forapplication to other purposes.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing an engine withmy improved valve device and connections with the rudder t a vessel.Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the portion of the valve-operatinglever extending into the pilot-house. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe cylinder and valve-chest. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve.Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections of the valve, respectively, on thelines 11 12 13 14, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the valve-cap, and Fig. Sis a view showing a modification.

Z represents the shalt of therudderorother device to be moved. Yis acrank-arm on said shaft. Z is the cylinder of the operating-englue. 0 isthe connecting-rod between the piston-rod and crank Y. R is thevalve-case; R, the valve-spindle. B is the lever of the spindle thatextends into the pilot-house. S is a conical valve turning in the casingR and projecting beyond the smaller end of the cats ing. T is a capcovering the projecting end of the valve and secured to a spindle, 70,mounted in hearings on the engine. On the spindle k v is aspirally-curved wing, It, the edge of which extends between adjustablelips i i on the cross-head 7:

The valve S has circumferential grooves l 2 3 4 5 6 7, andlongitudinalchannels map q, respectively communicating at one end withports at np q, the channels at, a, and p communicating at the other endwith ports of b, and the channel q communicates with two radiatingports,0 d, and channels 5, 6, and 7 to take up leakage. The casing R coversthe valve 8 nearly as far as the dotted line as, Fig. 4. The inlet-portr, Fig. 3, is opposite the groove 3. The exhaust-port s is opposite togroove 1. The right-hand port, P, of the cylinder, Fig. 3, opensopposite the groove 2,and the left-hand port, 0 opens opposite thegroove 4. The steam always fills the groove 3, port 1), channel p, andport b, which is, however, closed when itis opposite the blank face y ofthe cap T, Fig. 7. By turning the valve in one direc tionor the otherthe port I) may be put in communication with either of two channels,ttl7,ill the casing T. When adjusted as in Fig.5 the steam will passfrom the port b, through the channel 2 to the porte, along the channelm, out the port at into the groove 2,and thence along the channel P tothe right-hand end of the cy.linder, throwing the piston to the left orbackward. As the piston moves backward the cross head is carried back,and the lips t' i act the opening of' the port to any extent. starts.

ahead and gradually closes the port until its action is arrested. Thesame result ensues it the valve is turned to bring the port b intocommunication with the channel a, the port a, groove 4, and port 0, tothe left-hand end of the cylinder, and the reverse movement of the cross-head turning the cap Tin the opposite direction from that desclibedbefore until the blank face 3 closes the port I). As the valve is set tobring the port 1) into communication with the channel 12 and port 0 theport (I is brought opposite the'channel u, and the steam exhausted fromthe left-hand end of the cylinder flows through the channel 0, groove 4,7

port a, channel a, port f, channel a, port 61, channel q, port q, andgroove 1 to the exhaustpipes. 0n the reverse motion the exhaustfollowsthe portc to the channel q. The valve is set in either direction to anydesired extent by the pilot, who swings the lever B-as may be requiredto effect the desired result. As

' the piston moves forward or back it turns the rudder-shaft, and as thepilot can control absolutely the motion of the piston he can move andset the rudder to any position.

Ifan engine with an ordinary valve was used .to move the rudder and wasset in any posiin substantially the same position.

Asthere are no eccentrics and valve-rods on the engine, the piston canbe moved back against the steam, compressing the latter, so

that the rudder can turn if struck by ice, snags,

850.; but it will always resume its position, as

any change in the position of the piston will turn the cap T, open theports, and admit steam until the parts are brought to the same positionagain.

It is not absolutely necessary to set the engine horizontally nortoconnect it directly with the rudder. For instance, the piston-rod maybe connected to a lever, C, pivoted at U to a stationary part of theframe, and the armsot' this lever may be connected by cords 'or chainsto passing round guide-pulleys 6 to the tiller. The movements of therod'U will thus turn the rudder.

As all cords or cables are liable to stretch or become slack,Iprovidefor a limited movement of the lever 13 before operation on therudder-shaft can begin. Thus the lever B may extend between set-screwson a slide, A, carried on a curve-guide, A and provided with a pointer,4, which extends over a graduated index, 5. The set-screws may be soadjusted that no motion will be imparted to the slide and its pointeruntil the slack is all taken up and the rudder begins to move, when thelever will be brought into contact with one of said screws, and willmove the slide and its pointer. A .pivoted rack, 8, serves to secure thelever B during the adjustment of the valve. A lever, 2', serves to turnthe valve from the engineroom, the lever B being first disconnected.

It will be apparent that the ordinary ropes may be connected to thetiller and extend to the pilot-house for use in case the machinery getsout of order. 4

I do not limit myself to the precise construction of duplex valve andoperating devices described and shown, as I have invented and appliedfor Letters Patent for other valve appliances constructed with one partto be set by hand, so as to start and continue the-motion of the engineuntil thelatter automatically operates the other part and closes thesteam-passage.

it is obvious that other devices than those described may be used forturning the valveshaft by the longitudinal movement'of the piston-rodand by hand.

It will also be obvious that the engine described may be used for otherpurposes than that specially designated.

I claim- 1 1. The combination, with a rudder, of an engine connected tothe rudder to operate the same and a revolving duplex-valve device, onepart constructed and provided with hand setting mechanism, as specified,whereby steam may be admitted to operate the engine in either direction,and the other part connected with devices driven by the engine, andconstructed to close the steam-passages after the engine has moved therequired distance, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the rudder-operah ing engine-having areciprocating piston, a valve constructed to admit steam to either endof the cylinder, according to its adjustment, and another valve andappliances, substantially as described, for operating it from the engineto cut off the steam after the rudder has reached the desired position,substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the engine, its valve device, constructedsubstantially as described, hand-lever extending to the pilot-house,shaft 70, connected to the port-closing device, and bent wing It,extending between lips t t on the cross-head, substantially asspecified.

4. The combination of the reciprocating engine, valve S, provided withchannels andports for directing the steam to and exhausting it from theends of the cylinder, and devices for setting said valve by hand, and acap, T, provided with channels arranged to co-operate with thosein thevalve, constructed to close the steam-inlet when the cap is turned inthe direction in which the valve has been adjusted, and connectionswhereby the said cap is so turned by theengine as thelatter continuesits motion, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the valve-casing R, its inlet, exhaust, andcylinder ports, the valve S, having annular grooves 1 to 4, ports I), c,d, f, e, m, n,p, and q, and channels at n p q, and cap T, havingchannels a v, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the hand-lever 13, connected to thevalvedevice, of an index and a pointer attached to a slide arranged to beoperated by the lever, and adjusting devices whereby to permit a limitedmotion of the lever in either direction before moving the slide.substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the rudder, rudderoperating engine, pivoted leverO, guide-pulleys, and ropes connected to the tiller, substantially asset forth.

JOHN FRAZIER.

\Vitnesses:

JoHN S. THOMAS, G110. WM. CAULEY.

ICC

